Book Review: The Venetian's Wife by Nick Bantock

What I thought would be a novel about a Victorian era turned out to be a quest to completing a collection of magnificent sculptures from Ancient India.

What really interested me about the book was the title as I was looking for something to break away from the usual reading that I did about my usual authors. This turned out to be a fusion of artworks and Indian myth, and the quest of a computer-ghost to complete the lost collection in order to be reunited with his beloved after a forced separation of five hundred years.

This is my first time to read Nick Bantock and I find his approach to Indian art and myth quite interesting, not to mention short. The story centers on Sara Wolfe who is a curator for a museum and how she is employed by a mysterious Mr. Conti to locate the remaining four sculptures of his vast collection. 

Highlights of the Book: Themes, Issues and Characterization

(Warning: May Contain Spoilers)

There are three things about The Venetian’s Wife that I find rather interesting to note. First, the book features collages of art works and captivating sculptures that introduce the beliefs of Indian myth. Here again are the customs of their gods and the concept of reincarnation, as well as the journey of life itself.

Second, one gets to meet interesting characters who have their own story to tell, their reverence and attachments to each of the sculptures. This is where the acquisition of ancient treasures and works of art of private individuals and collectors resurface, instead of returning them to their country or place of origin under the care of the people to carefully preserve them. 

The recurring themes are all about passion, love, religion and life. These are seen in Sara’s growth as she takes the first step in her freedom and the way she is able to take a firmer grasp of love. Likewise, Niccolo Conti does everything in his power to fulfil his wife’s wishes as well as his desire to be reunited with her again after a very, very long time. Both employer and employee have a deep reverence for life and the way the Indian deities have exercised their powers.

  

Who Could Enjoy This Book?

Seeing that the book is all about growth, Indian myth and art, Nick Bantock’s book may well be interesting for people who want to learn about the Indian deities, sculptures and about art collecting. It is a light read, sprinkled with beautiful collages, photographs and paintings, and it is only 130 pages. It makes for a good weekend read and gives a sense of what an art collector does whether for self-satisfaction or working for an employer, even for a mysterious one.

About The Author

Nick Bantock is the bestselling author of the illustrated trilogy Griffin and Sabine, Sabine’s Notebook and The Golden Mean and also Averse to Beasts all published under Chronicle Books. He has written and illustrated nine other books and he is currently residing on an island off Vancouver, British Columbia with his wife and children. 

What Other People are Saying About This Book

Curious as to what other people are saying about The Venetian's Wife? 

Visit the following sites to read the reviews:

Good Reads

Amazon 

Book Review: Keeping Score by Marc Brackett

Here is a relationship book that has a fresh approach and is difficult to put down. If you are an eager learner and fast reader, with the hopes of learning a thing or two about relationships the honest and mature way, then this book is worth a try.

Style

The analogies and examples are relevant! It knocks sense into the reader, and if you are a man looking to learn a thing or two here, you would not regret lingering for a while. The tone gears towards the obvious, to the subtle. Overall, it is a fun read!

The more you read, the more insights you gain. Whether or not you have a slow or fast pace, it is worth it. In my case, I recommend you take your time with this. This is not just a straight relationship boring read. It is a fun journey and you will be glad with little surprises along the way.

If you have at first hesitated to open and discuss about your relationships, this is the time to re-evaluate and work towards the issues which are slowly surfacing on the front.

The name of the game is to manage and come up with good solutions to make the relationship or marriage work. Explanations and illustrations are short and concise, making this book very reader friendly.

Quotes are generously sprinkled in sections of the book.

I have also asked some friends if they would pick up the book or read it, surprisingly the answers are yes, and they have even said that the title is intriguing.

Organization

Sections are broken down in easy to digest, bite-sized chunks which makes it easier to read, so if you find yourself in need of a break, you can finish a section and take a break there, then continue to the next.

The book is not a questionnaire, it is not an activity book, but the approach is similar to one. There are special features which serve as a bonus. Even if the tone is light and funny, the realizations cannot be missed!

If you are a sensitive person quick to pick up on the hints that are laced all throughout the book, then you can make mental notes of what adjustments and new things to try in order to improve your relationship.

Another plus with this book is its scope. From finances, vacations, dating, to in-laws and many more, the topics are diverse, touching as much as it could in a simple, comprehensive manner in 150 pages.

Inspiration

In an interview with Parchment and Pixels, Marc Brackett shared that he hopes Keeping Score’s readers would understand the power of how the little things affect the quality of relationships they are leading. The way he sees it, the little things build up. They even matter when problems arise. Also, Brackett hopes that “the readers can find joy along the way and appreciate the journey together with their partners”.

About the Author

Marc Brackett lives in Idaho with his lovely wife Kristin and five beautiful daughters. The whole family enjoys outdoor activities that are abundant in Idaho. Keeping Score was made possible by the following:

Cover and interior design by www.TheBookProducer.com
Fountain pen image courtesy of Waterman: www.Waterman.com

Last Words

Keeping Score is not just for readers who are in relationships, it is also for couples who are married, as well as those who are single, searching and are content to be single but would want to see themselves in a relationship someday.

There are a few lessons that I have realized along the way, and perhaps you can pick up a thing or two with Keeping Score. Brackett has tried his best in maintaining equality for both men and women readers. Although there are some choices following questions that are repetitive, it is still generally a good experience and I can say that there is no time wasted with a book like this.

What Others Are Saying About It

You can find out what other people are saying about Keeping Score in the leading book sites here:

Good Reads

“This is not the usual kind of book for me. I tend to stay away from these relationship-improvement books, but this one caught my attention and I had to give it a try. “ -Valentina

Amazon

"I'm very happy to see we are really a perfect match"-pinkcattleya

Book Review: Vintage Veronica by Erica Perl

Again, I found this book from my suki online bookshop, LifeIs Like a Book Page on Multiply  Even if Ate Maricar sells second hand books, they are in great condition and can still pass as brand new because its original owners know how to take care of them very well, most especially the hardbound ones. I found this book in another one of last year’s album, and have wanted to read it for some time now. I saw another copy in another supplier’s album but I was too late because it was already sold out.

But this time, I was lucky to have it reserved. And now as I have finished reading it, I can share some insights about Vintage Veronica by Erica Perl. Now you can see why it attracted me to read the novel in the first place. It says vintage and the cover sure reflects it.

A healthy dose of vintage clothing for teen/ YA lit 

Highlights of the Book

If you are into vintage flannel, embroidered patterns, lace and all things vintage, you might just enjoy reading Vintage Veronica. If you are a confessed collector and frequent "visitor" of the flea market, then this might just be the bedtime reading that you need.

But beyond just the Dollar a Pound vintage clothing store, you can see that the people in it are all a handful of characters that have their quirks and pet peeves. Veronica is a fat girl who thinks that she is doing fine all on her own until her mother encourages her to meet other people and make friends. She sure does meet people and make friends thanks to Zoe and Ginger who think they pretty much run the store in the fitting room areas. However, when they let Veronica in on a secret, confirming their suspicions that Claire and a boy named Lenny are running a stolen goods ring, Veronica feels that she has won friends and have some people to laugh with instead of people laughing at her. Now she is let in on a Secret Spy Girl pact and has to update Zoe and Ginger about Lenny's activities. She even follows him to his house and confronts him!

But there is so much more about Lenny that none of theSecret Spy Girl trio know. Is accusing Lenny of stealing something to be taken seriously?

Each chapter has a fun illustration of vintage clothing pieces, like a pink flannel pajama top, or an embroidered full skirt. Sometimes one might think that Veronica’s character is patterned after the author herself who is equally obsessed with vintage clothing too.

What I also like about the book is that I can closely picture what’s going on, I have a close vision of what the Clothing Bonanza store looks like, how slim Veronica’s mother is, and I can almost hear Lenny’s voice as he argues in his backyard as he buries beloved Dep.

Conclusion 

I picked out this book for light reading, something to look forward to during weekends or even for some bedtime reading with a lamp (hooray I already have a lamp with clear light!). Admittedly, there is some fun dialogues the reader can pick up between Lenny and Veronica in their conversations but let me not spoil it for you.

I am proud to say though that my copy came with a paper bookmark and it sure suits the book and the plot. There is magic in the book, and it comes really subtle and you have to feel it, which probably makes this book a keeper somehow.

Did I like reading the book? I would have to say yes, because it touches on what most of us want to feel, and that is having to stop being lonely. Here, Veronica wants to belong, even if it means spending some time with two snotty girls, which at first she thinks is cool because she gets to have “friends”. But as the friendship between her and Zoe and Ginger take unexpected turns, she finds out who the real friends can be, and they usually show up in the unexpected persons of Bill and Lenny, and of course, her Mom. Because Veronica prefers to spend most of her time in Employees Only!, she does not know what she is missing to where the real action is in terms of vintage clothing.

Also, just like any teen, Veronica does have a rocky relationship with her Mom because they tend to see things in a different light, but the key to resolving this is through some good old, honest girl talk.

Erica Perl’s writing style is a relief, such that it is very easy to read. It is suitable for teens and young adults who want a refreshing, easy read. I would not recommend it to pre-teens however, because there is a makeout scene in the middle of the book and f***k appears too often in the conflict scenes. There are also behavioural problems that may not be good examples for preteens but I feel that it is important to show because these actions contribute to the characterization in the book.  

About the Author

Erica S. Perl is a third generation connoisseur of vintage clothing, fabric, and collectibles. She honed her thrifting skills at the fertile resale bins of Vermont, Louisiana, New York and Massachusetts. Erica was inspired to write about Vintage Veronica after consigning some items at the Garment District, the legendary Cambridge, Massachusetts second hand store. Although fans of the Garment District will likely recognize the influence of some of the store’s customs and characters, Vintage Veronica is mostly a work of fiction.

A former trial lawyer, Erica lives in Washington, D.C.

Vintage Veronica is her first novel.

(2010)

Winner of the 2011 Gold Star Award and Hall of Fame Placement

What Others Are Saying About Vintage Veronica

I laugh at what the reviews at Amazon say about this book!

Amazon Reviews

“Wonderful novel with quirky characters”-Sara

“Pitch perfect voices”-J. Chessen

“Refreshingly original and quirky story”-Karen

Other reviews:

Erica Perl OfficialSite

Lauren’s CrammedBookshelf